Patterson



Dec. 29, 1931. P. o. STEWART' HIGH TENSION IGNITION AMPLIFIER .f 1 3Q@ 2 WM Filed June 10, i931 a n n l 'INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

' by any condensed moisture Patented Dec. 2 9, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application nled June 10,

My inventionl relates to a new and improved high-tension ignition amplilier.

One of the objects of my invention is to` minimum resistance.

Another object of my invention is to provide in combination, in a device of this type, one or more electrodes made of material on which an insulating coating is formed by the passage of electric current, and one or more electrodes made of material on whicha coating of relatively ood conductivity is formed by the passage o? current.

Another object of my invention is to include in a device of this type a recessed cap vor end piece made of a non-carbonizin d1- electric material, the processing of Whic automatically forms means for aiding the secure connection of the high-tension wire to the device.

Another object of my invention is t`o provide vent holes in a device of this type, whereor gases that may be formed will be dissipated.

Another object of my invention is to include in a device of this type, a simple builtinlocking means to preclude disassembly or the disturbing of'any adjustments.

Other objects ofA my invention will be set forth in the following description and drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, it being understood that the above general statement ofthe objects of my invention is intended merely to generally explain the same and not to limit it in any manner. I

Fig. 1 is a sectional view partially in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

- Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig 4 is a sectional view on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

' of the cap or 1981. Serial me. 543,875.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig...2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is an elevation showing a modication. f

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-5, the attachment comprises a casing 1 made of any suitable insulating material, such as a condensation resin, libre, or the like.

For convenience, it is assumed the device is held in the vertical position shown in Fig. 1, although the operation thereof is not dependent upon any particular position.

The casing 1 is provided with a cover 2, which is preferably made of porcelain. The high tension lead 3 is inserted into the vrecess cover 2, and it is provided with a metal terminal member 4 which makes firm contact with the terminal member 5, which is formed like a hollow rivet, and is expanded so that it is firmly locked in the correspondinghopening 5a of the cover 2. j

order to firmly anchor the high tension wire chanical securing means, a coating 2a of glaze ma be formed upon the porcelain cap 2.

en the glaze 2a is applied, this is preferably done by means of spraying device, so that the liquid enters the upper end of the recess 5a, to about the point 5b. When baked this laze constricts the outer end of the recess 5a, own to about the point 5b, in order to form an undercut at the inner end of said recess 5a. v The contact member'4 has its wall separated into sections by means of V-shaped slits, so that said member 4 can be forced into the wider or inner portion of the recess 5a, and it then forms a positive lock, due to the expansion of said member 4, which holds the wire3 in position with great firmness. The end of the member 4 is soldered or otherwise suitably connected to the inner exposed end of the wire 3. The wire 3 is provided with suitable insulation 3a.

The inner end of the member 5 is provided with a head 6, which holds a yoke 7 in position.V This yoke 7 has its side walls of rectanf gular shape, and the upper end ofthe yoke 7 3 in position, without any external meas shown inFig. 5.

. orderto ventilato the` casin that the casin'g'is thoroughly ventilated inV the cap 2, so

is located in a recess 7a in the inner end of that the yoke 7 can only turn to a limited extent. A lower yoke 7 b 1s provided, having the same shape and dimensions as the upper oke 7 and said yokes 7 and 7 b are connecte to a lurality of intermediate sheets of fibre or ot er insulating material 8. These sheets of fibre form an inner casing in which electrodes 9 and 9a are movably held. The electrodes 9 and 9a are separated by a partition membe "'510, and the ends of said partition -10 are grllvided with recesses, 's partition member 10 can be diagonally introduced into the common opening 11 which is formed in said fibre members, and the metal partition member 10 can then be turned until it is horizontal, in which position it fits closely butA freely, so that said partition member 10 has a limited up and down movement. Hence, the three members 9, 9a and 10 can vibrate in a vertical direction, under the iniuence of the vibration of the engine.

Inorder to assemble the arts, the bre pieces 8 can be first riveted to t e upper yoke 7 y means of a rivet 12, the rollers 9 and 9a and the partition member 10 can then be inserted into proper position and the lower oke 7 b can then be riveted to the rectangular bre ieces 8, by means of a rivet 12a.

Before this is done, a screw 14 is inserted throughran opening in the bottom `of the lower yoke 7b.

Likewise, the U-shagd spring member 15 is placed in position fore the screw 14 is passed through an opening provided in said spring 15 and an opening provided in the bottom of the yoke member b.

The bottom of the casing 1 is closed by a member 16, made of porcelain orother suitable insulating maten'al, and a nut 14a clamps the closure 16 firmly iiliposition. The bottom closure 16 is 'prvidediwith openings 17, in

and for this purpose the ca r2l is provide with any suitable number o recesses or openings 17a, so

every position which it may assume.

The inner surface of the closure member 16l is provided with depressions 17 b which are sha ed like ratchet teeth, so that the ends o f e blade spring 15 can abut the shoulder portions 17 c of said depressions 171), in order to prevent the cap 2 and its associated parts from turning.

In order to assemble the parts, the nut 14a is placed within the recess provided for this purpose in the closure 16, and the cap 2 together with all the inner parts suspended therefrom is inserted, until the threaded end of the s'crew 14 passes through the threaded opening of the nut 14a. The cap 2 is now turned in a clockwise direction until the members 2 and 16 arefirmly clamped together. It is then impossible to reversely turn the cap 2, in the counterclockwise direction, because this is prevented by the xprbing 15 and the ratchet-tooth depressions The unit therefore is permanently assembled and the factory adjustment cannot be tampered with. j

It is well known that the oxide caused by an electric spark or arc on electrodes of brass, nickel, iron, etc., is a relatively good conductor of electricity and that the oxide formed under. the same conditions on aluminum, tungsten and similar metals has' a relatively high resistance, it is also well known that the single jump subsidiary gap used in Aignition systems relies on a rise in potential for its effects. The use of the multiple pump quenching gap, which produces an oscillatory high tension discharge is also well known and it is with the latter type of device my invention deals.

From the irst the designers and inventors of these devices have used the same metals for all of the electrodes, that is in devices using nickel electrodes, all of the electrodes were of nickel; in the devices using tungsten all of the electrodes were of tungsten; in the devices using electrodes of a metal of which the oxide was a conductor the electrodes were spaced far enough apart to preclude the foul in or short-circuiting of the device by the oxide formed, and of course these gaps added an appreciable resistance to the circuit.

In the devices using aluminum, tungsten and such metals, although the gaps were very minute at the start and the resistance was much lower than the devices which initially had wider gaps, the resistance rapidly built up due to the increasing thickness of the layers of non-conducting oxide formed by the action of the current. Heretofore this increase of resistance was either ignored, or a safety gap was placed in parallel so the current coul d by-pass or the oxide was partly removed by vibration. In my new invention the in: ulating oxide formation is reduced to just one-half the amount with the same number of gaps.

While I do not wish to be restricted to any particular material or combination of materials, referring to Fig. 1, I prefer to make the yokes 7 and 7 b and the member 10 of brass and to make the members 9 and 9a of aluminum. Thus when the member 14 is suitably connected to the distributor head of an internal combustion engine, and the hi h tension wire from the coil is inserted in t e recess 5a, the high tension,I current will pass through the members 7, 9, 10, 9a and 7 Z2.

By choosing the materials as above specied, the current passes through four minute gaps, yet has only a total resistance of four very thin layers of insulating oxide to overcome, rst when passin from the yoke 7 to themember 9, secondly rom the member 9 to aluminum member or members. W en this insulating coatlng 1s broken down, the secthe member 10, thirdly from member 10 to the member 9a, and fourthly when it passes from the member 9a to the yoke 7b. If all of the parts were made of aluminum the resistnce would be double that of my combinalon.

The electrode members 9 and 9a are preferably in the form of. elongated rollers and they are suiiiciently wide so as to make fairly close contact with the ad'acent sides of the yoke 7 and the yoke 7 b. ndeed, the coated surfaces of the rollers 9 and 9a ma be in constant contact with the inner sur aces of the okes 7 and 7 b.

Tile vibration and rubbing contact which is thus produced causes any excess of alumil num oxide coating to iiake olf, so tha the resistance of the device never becomes undesi-rably high.

Although I have shown the metal alternating, first of one group (non-insulating oxide) then ofthe other (insulating oxide), it

is to be understood that I do not wish to be restricted to that sequence or arrangement, and although I have shown what I now believe. to be the preferred structure, other structures and modifications can be used in order to produce a lurality of aps, such as a chain, a series of 'sks, or a ro lin contact. A simple modification. is shown in Flgs. 6 and 7 A fibre sheet 8 is connected b means of rivets 12 and 12a to yokes 7 an 7b in the manner previously specified, and a screw 14 is connected to the lower yoke 7 b, in the manner previously specified. The holding spring 15 is employed in. the manner previously specified, and the general construction of the. arts is the same. A disk D is madeof alummum is loosely held in position by means of a screw 20, so that said disk can vibrate up and down to a limited extent and it can freely oscillate so that it makes alternate contact with the yokes7 and 7b. Likewise, the fit of the disk D upon the screw 20 is suiiicientl free, in order to permit the disk-D to simu taneously contact with the adjacent sides of the okes7 and 7b.

The principle of operation of this device is the same as that previously specified.

When the high tension voltage is imposed upon the i ition system, this voltage must rise to a olnt suiiciently high to break down the insu ating coatings formed u on the ondary current discharges throu h the terminals of the spark gap in the orm of an oscillatory discharge of high frequency.

The cap 2 is provided with recesses' 17a, so that there will always be a natural circulation of air through the openings 17 and recesses 17a and' through the device, thus ventilating it sutciently, irrespective of the position of the device. The device is norma ly held with its axis in the vertical position.

It will b e noted that the 17 a rovide inlet passages which are perpendicu ar to the longitudinal axis of the device. The openings 17 provide'` outlet passages which are Jparallel to said longitudinal axis. When the device is used on an automobile or other vehicle, it is ra idly moved. Likewise, it is normally in t e ath of a current of .a1r which is roducedy y the'fan which forms part of t e engine. Assuming that the axis of the device is normally held in the vertical position, as this would be its position in nearly all cases, the air current which is produced by the motion of the vehicle and by the fan 'enters the top of the casing through the lateral inlet assages. This air current is downwardly de ected so that a sub1 stantial part of it passes out through the opening 17 thus thoroughly Ventilating the device.

Even if the path of the air current is parallel to the longltudinal axis of the device, the same effect will be secured because the air current will build up an excess of pressure at the cap 2 and it will produce a relative vacuum at. the bottoms of the openings 17. Hence, a current of air would be induced recesses or openings through the casing 1. This induced current tion resin, thus producing additional corrosion of the metal parts and of the fibre parts within the casing. While I prefer to have the inlet openings of the casing transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis, and to have the outlet openings substantially parallel to said' longitudinal axis, I do not wish to be limited to this specific arrangement. Y It is sufficient if the casing has openlns which are axially separated to an extent su cient to' cause a current of air to pass through the casing. This Ventilating means makes it possible to make the body of the casing out of bakelite which is superior to fibre for many reasons.D Likewise, even if the bottom openings 17 are omitted, the shape of the cap causes any air which enters the .o enings 17a to be downwardly deflected,

members on which a layer of good conductivity is formed by the passage of the current, as brass members. Likewise, I refer to members on which a relatively non-A ducting layer is formed by the passage ,of 'electric current, as aluminum members. Hence, whenever I' refer to brass in the claims, it is to be understood that I wish to cover all equivalent metals, and the same is true when I refer to aluminum in the claims. n

The advantage of using the porcelain cover 2 is that it is non-carbonizing. If a perfect Contact is not made between the high tension wire 3 and its member 4, or between the members 4 and 5, a spark is formed. If the member 2 is made of a condensation resin such as bakelite, this spark will carbonize and burn through the cover, or interfere with the direct circuit which is desired. These disadvantages are avoided by the use of unglazed porcelain directly ad] acent the member 4, and this unglazed porcelain also has a very high frictional grip on4 the member 4.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions can be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In an ignition amplifier for internal combustion enginesj'a plurality of conducting members forming a spark gap, said members having a limited free relative movement with respect to each other under the intluence of engine vibration, one ofsaid members being made of brass and the other being made of aluminum.

2. In an ignition amplifier for an internal combustion engine, a casing, movable conducting members located in said casing and having a limited relative movement with respect to eachother and forming a spark gap or spark gaps, said casing having ventilation openings at separated portions of the wall f. f thereof, said ventilation openings being axially separated from each other to an extent su cient to cause a Ventilating current of air to be induced through said casing.A Y

3. In an ignition al'npl'fierI for an internal combustion Iengine, a series of conducting members having'a limited free relative movement with respect-to each other under the iniiuence'of the vibration of the engine, said members forming a series of spark gaps, the alternate members of said series being respectively made of brass and of aluminum.

4. In an ignition amplifier for; an internal combustion-engine, a plurality of terminals,

a partition member located between said ternnnals and movable relative thereto, and Aelectrode members respectively located 'bei tween said terminals I,and said partition mem-- combustion engine,

ber.

5. In anignition amplifier for an internal a holding -member made vpartition member.

6. In an lgnitlon amplifier for an internal combustion engine, a holding member made of insulating material and provided with an opening, yoke-shaped terminal members connected to said holding member at opposite ends of said openingfa partition member movably located in said o ening, and electrode members loosely con ed between said yokes and the opposite surfaces of said partition member, said yok-es and said partition member being made of brass and said electrode members being made of aluminum.

7. In an ignition amplier for an internal combustion engine, a casing having end elosures, conducting members located within said casing, said conducting members being relatively movable under the influence of the vibration of the engine, and forming a spark gap or spark gaps,- said closure members having terminal members to which said conducting members are connected, and ratchet means adapted to lock said end closures in position, in order to prevent said casing from being open-ed'. v

8. In anignition amplifier for an internal combustion engine, spark amplifying means enclosed in a casing, closure means for said casing, threaded parts holding said closure means and said casing together, and ratchet means cooperating with said threaded parts to lprevent said closure means and said casing from being opened.

9. In an ignition amplifier for an internal combustion engine, a casin having a first end closure and a second en closure, a first terminal member connected to the first c10- sure member and a second terminal member passing through the second closure member, said second terminal member' being externally threaded and being located in abore of the second closure member, anut mounted upon the second terminal member and located in a recess in the second e,closure member, a plurality of relatively movable conducting members located in said casing and in inductive relation with said terminal` members, the parts between said terminal 15 members being turnable in unison with said first terminal member, the inner surface of said second closure member including ratchet teeth, said parts including a spring adapted to engage said ratchet teeth. 1f

bonizing material, said part having a recess adapted to receive a lead wire, a current ter- Iminal located in said part and adapted to make contact with said lead wire.

5 11. A part for the ignition circuit of an internal combustion engine comprisin a casing having circuit means therein w ich include aspark gap, at least' a part of said casu ing being made of insulating and non-carbonizing material, said part having a recess adapted to receive a lead wire, a current ter- .minal located in said part and adapted to make contact with said lead wire, said recess being constricted at its outer end.

12. In the ignition circuit of an internal combustion engine, a casing, circuit means located within said casing and including a spark gap, said casing having vent means on its periphery, said vent means being axially separated to an extent suiiicient to cause a current of air to be induced through said casing..

13. A' part for the ignition circuit of an.

internal conbustion engine comprising a caswhich includes a spark gap, having an end member made of insulating and non-carbonizing material, a terminal member connected to said end member, said end member having a recess whose inner end is of larger diameter than the outer end thereof, and a high tension wire having an expansible metal member connected thereto, said metal member being adapted to make contact with the adjacent terminal member, said expansible member being adapted to engage the constricted outer end portion of said recess, in, order to hold said wire in position.

14. A part for the ignition circuit of an internal combustion engine comprising a casing said casing having circuit means therein which include a spark gap, having an end member made of insulating andP non-carbonizing material, a terminal member connected to said end member, said end member having a recess whose inner end is of larger diameter than the outer end thereof, and a high tension wire having an expansible metal member connected thereto, said metal member being adapted to make contact with the ature. ART.

ing said casing having circuit means therein adjacent terminal member, said expansible member being adapted to engage the constricted outer end portion of said recess, in order to holdsaid Wire in position, said end member beingr made of porcelain and having a glazed coating which extends into the outer end of said recess.

-15. In the ignition circuit of an internal combustion engine, a casing having circuit means located therein, said casing having a plurality of inlet openings which are inclined to the longitudinal axis of the casing, said casing also having deecting means adapted to axially deflect the air which enters said openings.

sov 

